Friday, September 18, 2009

Praying Psalm 2

Today we look at Psalm 2. Have you ever known someone that was fighting God's will? This psalm expresses the futility of attempting to thrawt God's will. David had been appointed king over Israel and the Philistines had massed their army to depose of him. What is God's response to those trying to stop Him; He laughs. Verses 1-4 say: Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!"
(NASB) Notice that since David was God's choice, God considered an attack against David as an attack against Him. He laughs at those that seek to challenge His decrees.

The Treasury of David explains the division of this Psalm: "This Psalm will be best understood if it be viewed as a four-fold picture. (In verses 1, 2, 3) the Nations are raging; (4 to 6) the Lord in heaven derides them; (7 to 9) the Son proclaims the decree; and (from 10 to end) advice is given to the kings to yield obedience to the Lord's anointed. This division is not only suggested by the sense, but is warranted by the poetic form of the Psalm, which naturally falls into four stanzas of three verses each." Verse 12 says: Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (NASB) The Treasury of David explains the argument for reconciliation and obedience: Mark the solemn argument for reconciliation and obedience. It is an awful thing to perish in the midst of sin, in the very way of rebellion; and yet how easily could his wrath destroy us suddenly. It needs not that his anger should be heated seven times hotter; let the fuel kindle but a little, and we are consumed. O sinner! Take heed of the terrors of the Lord; for "our God is a consuming fire." Note the benediction with which the Psalm closes:—"Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Have we a share in this blessedness? Do we trust in him? Our faith may be slender as a spider's thread; but if it be real, we are in our measure blessed. The more we trust, the more fully shall we know this blessedness. We may therefore close the Psalm with the prayer of the apostles:—"Lord, increase our faith."


Today, pray a portion of Psalm 2 as follows:
"I will surely tell of the Words of the Lord: Thank you Lord God for your Word that says, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.' " God grant me discernment; I worship You with reverence and I rejoice with trembling. I do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and I perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed am I because I take refuge in Him!

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